This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/575000000. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This position is located in GAO's Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics (STAA) Team. STAA’s mission is to produce technology assessments, technical performance audits, science oversight audits, engineering sciences analyses, and advanced analytics and cybersecurity research to Congress and GAO overall.
Learn more about this agency07/30/2020 to 08/13/2020
$88,224 - $149,981 per year
PE 2A
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Some travel may be required.
No
Permanent
Full-Time
Excepted
2A
No
No
GAO-20-STAA-1301-DHA-11
575000000
This position is being advertised under a Direct Hiring Authority. *The salary listed is based on the lowest to the highest locality areas where the position will be located.
• Support and/or lead the execution of science and technology engagements including performance audits, technology assessments, and Comptroller General forums and roundtables: administration of, advising on, or conducting research in, fields of science concerned with matter, energy, space, time, physical measurements, and the physical environment; familiarity with mechanics, sound, optics, heat, electricity, magnetism, radiation, or atomic and nuclear phenomena; the understanding, analysis, design, and fabrication of nanoscale materials; the design and use of atomic force microscopes and related microscopy technologies; the understanding, analysis, design, and fabrication of quantum sensors and devices; and potential novel applications of nanoscale and quantum devices.
• Provide expert level technical advice and support to engagement teams across GAO on physical science-related aspects of the engagement, in accordance with GAO standards.
• Contribute to the development of the engagement’s approach, including participating in the preparation of the design matrix and project plan; conducting background research on the subject matter; preparing and organizing engagement-related documentation; data gathering and analysis from a variety of sources, including developing interview questions and taking thorough interview notes; and evaluating engagement-related documentation to make logical inferences and draw accurate conclusions.
• Conduct interviews to gather appropriate information, and communicate relevant information to agency officials, team members, internal stakeholders, and congressional staff, during formal and informal presentations and meetings.
• Support the data analysis and evaluation phase of the engagement related to physical science topics. This includes data analysis and message development by synthesizing technical information and drawing preliminary conclusions, and periodically presenting findings to engagement team members, management, and stakeholders.
• Perform indexing and referencing of products and assist with the coordination of agency comments and the preparation of final products.
Applicants must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band level, or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service, which has equipped the applicant with the skills and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as demonstrated experience providing expert consultation on a variety of scientific / engineering disciplines to internal and external customers; and practical experience in executing, evaluating, assessing, or auditing government, private sector, or non-profit scientific or technological programs.
You must meet all the requirements before the announcements closes.
This position has a positive education requirement. Documentation to verify your education MUST be submitted with your application in order to be considered.
Basic Requirements Physical Scientist 1301:
Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
or
Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
**YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT(S) SHOWING THIS COURSEWORK. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING.**
This is a bargaining unit position.
Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.
Selectee may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Statement.
Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid for by the GAO.
Males born after 12/31/59 and at least 18 years of age must be registered with the Selective Service System. Visit http://www.sss.gov/.
Please be aware that applicants will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. If selected, at the time of appointment, selectees will be required to update the OF-306.
If you are selected for this position, you will be subject to a determination of your suitability for Federal employment.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
The U.S. GAO is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service. Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the GAO require completion of a one-year or two-year probationary period.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by a direct hire authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply to this vacancy. Your qualifications will be initially evaluated against the basic qualifications only. Qualified applicants will be referred for consideration in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire guidelines. Veterans' Preference does not apply to positions covered by a direct hire authority.
Please make sure that your responses to the assessment questions are supported in your resume and follow all instructions carefully. If you provide incomplete answers, fail to provide a narrative response to any assessment question(s) that requires further explanation, or if your response to an assessment question is "see resume,” your application may be affected or you may be determined ineligible
All applicants will be evaluated based on their responses to the assessment questions, in conjunction with the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):
• Extensive professional knowledge of a variety of physical science disciplines and interrelated advanced concepts, including theories, principles, practices, and techniques of nuclear, solid state, high-energy, materials, and/or geological physics or chemistry, among others.
o Knowledge of mechanics, sound, optics, heat, electricity, magnetism, radiation, or atomic and nuclear phenomena, among others.
o Demonstrated ability to advise, supervise, or perform work related to the investigation and application of physical phenomena in the areas described above.
o Particular knowledge of nanoscale materials, atomic force microscopy, and quantum sensors and devices is highly desirable.
• Mastery of qualitative and quantitative techniques for analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of scientific or technical government programs and/or operations. Familiarity with the coordination and execution of technology maturation and testing regimes for next generation technologies is also desired.
• Mastery of analytical concepts, principles, and practices related to detailed analysis and documentation to conduct the data collection, review, and analysis processes of the engagement.
• Skill in selecting, organizing, and presenting appropriate information in a concise and balanced manner as well as skill in communicating such information to target audiences.
• Ability to conduct research and develop reliable evidence to support report findings and recommendations.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing to prepare reports, participate in interviews and meetings, and to make presentations. By way of definition, oral communication may include methods used by employees with disabilities such as sign language interpretation, text-to-speech or TTY technology, and amplification devices.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in a group setting.
You must provide a complete application package which includes:
- Resume: must be created using the USAJOBS resume builder and show relevant work experience.
- If you are using your education to qualify (even partially), you must submit a copy of your transcripts. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you will be required to provide official transcripts. Foreign Education: If you are submitting a transcript from a non-US educational institution, applicants must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials, commonly called a credential evaluation service.
- Current or former federal employees may submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent), showing tenure, type of service (competitive/excepted) and the highest grade held.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
1. To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. Follow the prompts to begin the application process.
2. You will be redirected to the Career Connector website to complete the application process.
3. Click on "Submit" to transmit your complete application package to GAO.
Can I send my application package documents to the agency point-of-contact via email or mail?
Your application package must be submitted online through Career Connector. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents.
What is a complete application package?
1. Your resume. This must be created using the USAJOBS resume builder. Resumes created outside USAJOBS (e.g., uploaded resumes) will not be accepted.
2. The assessment questionnaire.
3. The documentation listed in the Required Documents section. You only need to submit the documents listed.
When is the application package due?
It must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure all the documents are received and the information is readable. Your application may not be considered if it doesn't meet the criteria. Requests for extensions will not be granted.
1. Sign into your USAJOBS account.
2. If your application package was successfully transmitted, you will see "Received" beside the position title. Keep in mind, this may take a couple hours because your documents undergo a virus scan.
3. To view your documents or the complete application package received by GAO, select "Application Status." The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application.
If you have questions about:
• The vacancy announcement or the position: The agency contact is listed at the bottom of the announcement.
• Technical issues with USAJOBS: Please refer to the USAJOBS Help page.
• Technical issues with Career Connector: Please contact CareerConnectorHelp@do.treas.gov.
After the closing date of this announcement, GAO's Human Capital Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications by reviewing your assessment questionnaire and resume to complete an analysis. Please be as complete and thorough as possible. If your application is rated "best-qualified," your name will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. At this point you may be contacted for an interview.
If you do not meet the key requirements, and/or basic qualifications or you fail to submit all required application materials, your application will not be considered.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/575000000. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. We accomplish our mission by providing objective and reliable information and analysis to the Congress, to federal agencies, and to the public, and recommending improvements, when appropriate, on a wide variety of issues to make government work better. To learn more about working at GAO, see https://www.gao.gov/about/careers/why-work-for-gao/